UN recognises Venice as a model city in how it defends its cultural heritage.

On 11 May 2011, Venice was awarded 'model city in its responsiveness to the need to protect of its cultural patrimony' status by the UN at a ceremony in Geneva. Giorgio Orsoni, mayor of Venice, was presented the award by Ms Asha-Rose Migiro, Deputy Secretary General of the UN. The citation mentioned the city's flood warning system, the Civil Defence force trained to protect works of art and monuments, the raising of the level of the pavements against flooding, the fire protection system, and the flood barriers under construction (MOSE). The main criterion for this award is the estimated capacity of a community to return to normal after an exceptional damaging event.